River Hart

River Hart

Tech Software Editor

River is a Tech Software Editor and VPN expert, helping take care of cybersecurity content on TechRadar, ranging from reviews, buying guides, and must-have VPN deals. River's expertise in the cybersecurity field opened their eyes to the startling amount of online snooping we accept into our daily lives. Now, River is committed to fighting for your right to digital privacy by shining a light on its biggest threats – and helping readers safeguard their data with the help of a VPN. Surfshark is River's favorite VPN, and they use it every day to keep their most sensitive details out of the hands of third-party trackers.

After graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University with a First Class degree in Creative Writing, River bounced around the UK on a mission to craft stories. They’ve worked as a B2B magazine editor (working in an eclectic range of fields, including theme parks, VR gaming, and e-commerce), L&D [coordinator], and found their way into the world of cybersecurity in 2019, leading the writing team over at ProPrivacy. River has since been quoted in The Guardian, BBC News, and Forbes.

In their spare time, River enjoys poking around museums in their adopted hometown of Liverpool, hiking across their native North Wales countryside, and spending way too much time plugged into a PS5.

Articles by: River Hart

Teenage students using computers in computer room

The danger of data-hungry free VPNs in schools

By River Hart published

The real price As kids turn to free VPNs to get around school-imposed blocks, concerns have been raised about the ethics of free VPNs and how they pay their bills.

A dart that has landed in the middle of a bullseye on a red target

Targeted ads are a problem—here’s why

By River Hart published

I'll be watching you... Are we swapping our digital privacy for a little convenience? Here’s what you need to know.

The XNXUBD home page

Should you use XNXubd VPN?

By River Hart published

VPN Is this popular new "VPN Browser" the real deal? I'll dig into XNXubd to see if it's worth downloading (or a risk to your privacy).

Two cybercriminals escape with stolen login credentials

How does a data breach affect you and why should you care?

By River Hart published

Data breaches Hackers are hungry for your data, but does it really matter if they get their hands on it via a breach? Spoiler: yes.

A woman uses a Ring doorbell on the outside of a house

Ring cameras used to spy on you—is it safe to use smart devices?

By River Hart published

Cyber snooping Ring camera users get a multi-million settlement—but why do we keep inviting surveillance into our homes? Here's what you need to know when it comes to nosy IoT devices.

Kiran Desai and Salman Rushdie speak onstage at The Center for Fiction 2023 Annual Awards Benefit

Salman Rushdie's censorship interview is a reminder to use a VPN

By River Hart published

Censorship As Rushdie highlights the slippery slope of censorship in the US, it's never been more important to acknowledge the power of a VPN.

iPhone 12

How to set up a VPN on iPhone

By River Hart last updated

VPN Your iPhone isn't immune to digital nasties—but a VPN helps. Here's everything you need to know about getting an iPhone VPN up and running on your device, stress-free.

An illustration of a woman using a laptop and connecting to a remote server

How to set up port forwarding with PureVPN

By River Hart published

Sponsored

If you're looking to set up port forwarding but don't want to go through manual router configuration, PureVPN's port forwarding add-on is perfect. Here's how to use it.

A digitally created image of two backlit tunnels and a red ball

What is VPN port forwarding on PureVPN?

By River Hart published

Sponsored

Wondering how PureVPN's port forwarding add-on works, or who can benefit from it? Here's everything you need to know—without the jargon.

A Google Incognito Mode tab open on a mobile phone, set against a multi-color background made up of a repeating Google logo.

Google Incognito data to be erased—but what happens next?

By River Hart published

Opinion Google's recent legal battle is just the latest in a long string of privacy fails. It begs the question—is Google really doing enough to maintain our privacy?

An illustration containing a stack of books, a computer screen, and four figures surrounding the "VPN" abbreviation.

VPN vocabulary: key terms and jargon explained

By Shaun Rockwood last updated

VPN VPN jargon can get complicated pretty fast—but it doesn't have to be. I've broken all of the key terms down into bite-size explainers.

A man reclining on a deckchair beside a pool, loading a VPN onto a laptop

How to use PureVPN for traveling

By River Hart published

Sponsored

Whether you’re off on vacation or traveling for work, PureVPN has handy tools that’ll keep your devices secure and help you access content from back home (and everywhere else).

A group illustration of the Apex Legends cast

Apex Legends tournament disrupted by rogue RCE exploit hack

By River Hart published

Apex hacks RCE hacks caused chaos during last weekend's ALGS regional finals. Wondering what happened and why? Here's everything you need to know.

hide IP with a VPN

How to hide your IP address with a VPN

By Desire Athow last updated

VPN Your IP address reveals a lot about your online activity to nosy ISPs, advertisers, and even the government. With a VPN, however, you can hide it.

Illustration of a woman sitting on a yellow couch and watching a tablet

How to watch Netflix from other countries

By River Hart last updated

VPN Want to make the most of your Netflix subscription? Here's everything you need to know.

A close up of a face wearing glasses, with a reflection of digital information and a fingerprint reflected in the lenses

Vietnam to collect biometric information (and DNA) for new ID cards

By River Hart published

Breaking Iris scans, voice samples, and DNA will be used for identification purposes starting in July, as mandated by the Ministry of Public Security. Here's what you need to know.

An illustration of a smiling man with a laptop, surrounded by question marks

9 VPN myths busted - here's the truth

By River Hart last updated

VPN With so many misconceptions about VPNs out there, it can be hard to figure out the truth. Here's everything you need to know about today's top 9 VPN myths.

Uber Eats and NordVPN logos side by side

Celebrate NordVPN's birthday with massive savings and a free Uber Eats voucher

By River Hart published

Deals Treat yourself to any of NordVPN's 2-year plans and bag a free Uber Eats voucher worth up to $30/£30—for free.

NordVPN running on a desktop, mobile devices, Apple TV, a router and a game console

NordVPN unveils new free link-checking tool

By River Hart published

Breaking Link Checker, developed by NordLabs, determines whether URLs are safe to visit or jam-packed with malware. Here's what you need to know.

ExpressVPN Chrome browser extension

ExpressVPN Chrome extension: what is it and how to install on your browser

By River Hart last updated

VPN Want access to a VPN from within your browser? Here's how you can install ExpressVPN's Chrome extension.

A person using a laptop and a person using a mobile phone, near a server

What is a proxy server?

By River Hart last updated

Sponsored

Proxies can boost your digital privacy and speed up your browser—but there are downsides. I'll explain all.

ExpressVPN running on an iPhone being held up in a hand

What is VPN on iPhone?

By River Hart last updated

Sponsored

Discover how an iPhone VPN can help you stay safe online—even with Apple's iOS built-in protections.

Illustration of a 3D map on a mobile phone

How to change location and IP address with a VPN

By River Hart last updated

VPN Want to know how to change your location and IP address? Online geo-spoofing is easy with a VPN—I'll walk you through the process.

Illustration of a man holding a laptop stood near DNS servers

What is DNS and how does it work?

By Mike Williams, Nate Drake last updated

VPN The Domain Name System (DNS) is a key web technology, affecting everything from performance to privacy to whether you can access Netflix. But what is it and how does it work?

Christmas VPN deals next to a variety of devices running VPN apps.

Holiday season VPN deals: which services aren't lowering their prices?

By River Hart published

Holiday deals The festive season is in full swing, but some VPNs have decided not to deck the halls with holiday deals. Here are all of the services on the naughty list.

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